Sewing-machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N0 Model.)

P. HARLOW. SEWING MACHINE.

No. 448,941. Patented Dec. 80,1890.

Q .4 MW N M; WW

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. HARLOW. SEWING MACHINE.

No. 443,941. Patented Dec. 30,1890.

2 yTWQWf FJW%%7 (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 3.

P. HARLOW, SEWING MACHINE.

.No. 443,941. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. P. HARLOW.

V SEWING MACHINE. 7 NO. 443,941. Patented Dec. 30, 1890 yfii JZy-xr PIIILANDER IIARLOW OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEXV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

SEWlNG-MACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION.

forming part of Letters Batent No. 443,941, dated December 80, 1890.

Application filed November 2, 1886. Serial No. 217,768. (No model.)

To all whom it may COIZCGPIL.

Be it known that I, PHILANDER HARLOW, of Hyde Park, county of Norfolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sewing-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

i This invention has for its object to improve that class of sewing-machines employing a waxed thread and making a lock-stitch, a hooked needle passing upward through the material, catching a thread presented by a thread-guide, and pulling it over through the material to form a loop to be entered by an oscillating shuttle carrying a second thread, and a loop detainer co-operating with the hooked needle to enable it to hold its loop in place while the point of the shuttle enters it. The take-up employed to draw up the loop formed by the needle and set the stitch is made to vibrate in a heated chamber, so that the waxed thread is maintained at a temperature to work properly. The thread-guide is made to describe an irregular and somewhat triangular or oblong path about the hooked needle, in order that the said thread-guide may present its thread to the hook of the needle in usual manner, and the needle having caught the thread the thread-guide is stopped at the rear side of the needle in the plane of movement of the needle, so that the needle pulls the thread from the thread-guide nearly vertically down through the stock. Thereafter, to avoid twisting the loop of upper thread, the thread-guide,instead of returning, as usual in wax-thread sewing-machines, is made to complete its rotation about the needle. To avoid the rendering of the thread in the hook of the needle as the latter is descending through the material, a looper has been employed to grasp the thread between thethread-guide and the last stitch and pull off a length of thread just before the hook of the needle catches it.

The particular features of my invention will be hereinafter described, and especially designated in the claims following the description.

Figure 1 is a right-hand side elevation, partially broken out, representing a sewing-machine embodying my invention, the outer one of the two plates forming part of the threadclaniping mechanism being omitted; Fig. 2,

a rear or right-hand end elevation of Fig. 1 beyond the dotted line at on, some of the framework and parts of the gearing being broken out to show other devices beyond. Fig. 3 is a left-hand side elevation partially broken out. Fig. 4 is a front elevation, the needledriving cam-disk being partially broken out and the cover for the shuttle-race omitted. Fig. 5 is a detailof the looper rod and plate below the line y, Fig. 4:.v Fig. o isa perspective view of a portion of thelooper rod and plate shown in Fig. 5 on a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a section of a portion of Fig. 1, taken on the line .2 .2, looking down, the bearing D being omitted. Fig. (5 shows, on a larger scale, the

front side of the shuttle with the thread extending therefrom. Fig. 7 is a rear side view thereof; Fig. 8, a rear side view of the shuttie with the bobbin removed. Fig. 9 is a top view of Fig. 6. of Fig. 6 in the lines so and {162. Fig. 12, on a larger scale, shows in elevation and plan the dog and block for raising the presser-foot. Fig. 13 is a section of the thread-clamp lookmg let shows in elevation, partially broken out, the rod 6 and devices instrumental in operating the thread-guide; Fig. 15, a top view of Fig. 14; Fig. 16,a detail of the needlebar guide, needle-bar and needle, and loop- 85 detainer; Fig. 17, a plan view of Fig. 16, and Fig. 18 a diagram representing the movement of the thread-guide about the needle.

The frame-work A is of suitable shape to contain the working parts. has bearings A to sustain the main drivingshaft A to which is attached the drivingwheel A it having a grooved or scored hub A for the reception of the driving-belt of the machine. toothed gear A5, which engages and drives the intermediate A, fast on a stud A in practice made adjustable in the lug A of a bracket A bolted to the frame-work by bolts A.

This intermediate A engages with and turns 100 Figs. 10 and 11 are sections down below the dotted line 00 Fig.2.

This frame-work The shaft A has fast upon it a 5 a toothed gear B, attached to the rotating shaft B, which takes its bearings in the frame-work at 13 the said shaft being extended through a sleeve B partially broken out in Fig. 3 to show the shaft 13 within it.

The shaft B at its front end has attached to it a needle-actuatingcam-disk13*,provided at its inner side with a cam-groove B (shown by dotted lines, Fig. 4,) the said cam-groove receiving within it a roller-stud 13, carried by an ear or projection extended from the needle-carrying bar B it having attached to its upper end a hooked needle B of usual construction.

The needle-bar B preferably made dovetailed in cross-section, is fitted to slide in a dovetailed guideway in a bar B provided at its lower end with a hub B Fig. 16, which is fitted over and so as to turn on a stud B in the frame-work, the said stud serving as a fulcrum for the bar B.

The bar B at the front of the machine (see Figs. 4,16, and 17) has attached to it by screws a a loop a, so as to leave a space, as ta for the recep-tionof a loose block a which is attached by the screws a or otherwise to the arm 0 of a rock-shaft C, supported at its ends upon pointed studs a extended through suitable bearings a.

The rock-shaft C has adjustably attached to it by screws a the hub of an arm 0 upon which are adj ustably attached two collars a a, the collar a acting as a stop to determine the maximum length of-stitch, while the collar a acts to determine the minimum length of stitch.

In the formation of the stitch the needle-bar is reciprocated in usual manner to force the point of the needle up through a hole previously made in the leather or material by the awl b, to be described, the material at such time resting upon the work-support a and while the needle is in the material the shaft 0' is rocked, causing the bar B", in which the needle-bar is reciprocated, to be rocked about its pivot, thus making the needle serve to feed the material.

To impart motion to the rock-shaft C, and consequently feed the material, the arm 0* has connected to it a collar 0 which is clamped upon the said arm by the bolt 0 and its nut, so that the collar remains in position upon the arm 0 wherever it may be left.

The collar 0 (see Figs. 1 and 5) is provided with a stud which is extended through a feed-regulating lever C (shown by dotted lines, Fig. 5",) having its fulcrum at C (see Fig. 2,) the movement of the lever 0 up or down moving with it the collar C1 and changing its position upon the arm C The stud extended from the collar G as described,

through a hole in the lever enters loosely a block (1", fitted into the groove of an arm (3 (best shown in Fig. 5",) projecting from or forming part of a short rock-shaft D, which enters loosely the bearing D.

The rock-shaft D has attached to it by screws b an arm D provided at its inner end with a roller-stud D (shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2,) the said stud entering a camgroove D made in a cam-disk D made fast on the shaft B.

In the rotation of the shaft 13' the camgroove D acting on the stud D causes the rock-shaft D and its attached grooved arm C to be vibrated uniformly and for like distances, the said arm (3 in its vibration moving the arm 0 and rocking the shaft C a greater or less distance, according to the position of the collar C and the block C", as

-will be well understood.

The guide-bar B, as herein shown, has attached to it by suitable screws a block D upon which is pivoted a loop-detainer 12 (shown best in Figs. 16 and 17,) the said loopdetainer being acted upon bya spring 12 which keeps the loop detainer normally pressed against the needle-bar toward the needle; but the said needle-bar is provided at its front side (see Fig. 3) with a cam b, which, as the needle-bar rises, acts against the inner side of the loop-detainer b and turns it upon its pivot away from the upper but laterally-extended end of the needle-bar, said cam passing out from under the said loop-detainer when the needle-bar descends, thus permitting the loop-detainer to be moved by its spring toward and so as to nearly touch the needle just about as the hook of the nee dle arrives opposite the upper end of the loopdetainer, the said loop-detainer remaining in such position and acting to hold or detain the loop of thread upon the needle while the shuttle (to be described) enters the loop of thread drawn through the material by the hooked needle, the machine herein shown and described being adapted to form a lock-stitch.

The shuttle herein described and shown separately in Figs. 6 to 11 is of segmental shape, and is fitted to oscillate in a substantially circular opening or raceway in a post. E, suitably attached to the frame-work A by suitable bolts E. (See Fig. 1.) The shuttle derives its motion of oscillation from a car rier composed, essentially, of a disk E a portion of the edge of which is shown in Fig. 3, it having attached to it two horns 2 3, (see Fig. 4,) the horn 2 acting against the heel of the shuttle, while the horn 3 supports the shuttle near its point, the said horns acting as drivers for the shuttle.

The disk E has a rearwardly-extended shank E to which is attached a toothed pinion E which is engaged and turned in one and then in the opposite direction by, as herein shown, a segmental rack E attached at If to one end of an arm I). The arm 12 has a yoke I)", through the arms Fig. 3) are extended screws b the said screws serving to adjust-ably attach the arm I) to an arm or projection b", extended from the rocking sleeve B the said sleeve having an arm Z2 to which is jointed by bolt 5 the lower end of alink Z), the said link being provided of which (see with a roller or other stud b, which enters the cam-groove U in a disk E, fast upon the shaft A The upper end of the link 19 is slotted, as at I), (see Fig. 4,) to embrace a stud b coincident with the axis or center of motion of the shaft A The rotation of the cam-disk E through the devices described efiects the movement of the rack-bar E and the oscillation of the shuttle.

To adjust the throw of the shuttle in the circular race, so that the point of the shuttle may travel therein for the distance desired to correctly enter and pass through the loop of thread, it is only necessary to adjust the screws b The awl b is attached to the lower end of an awl-carrying bar F, having its bearings in usual manner at the front end of the overhanging arm of the machine. The awlcarrying bar is operated in usual manner from anarm F, attached to a rock-shaft F supported in bearings F, the said rock-shaft at its opposite end having an arm F to which is jointed a link F the lower end of the said link embracing an eccentric F on the shaft A The presser-foot F is attached to apresserbar F and has usual bearings at the front of the overhanging arm. The presser-bar is extended loosely through a block 0, shown separately in Fig. 12, where it will be noticed that the said block is open at one side and has pivoted upon it at c a dog 0 the said dog being shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4.

The rock-shaft F has attached to it the hub of an arm F, said hub being made adjustable upon the said shaft by means of a suitable set-screw, as F The arm F moves with the arm F as the latter rises to lift the awl-bar, and j ustbefore the needle-bar is to be moved to effect the feeding of the stock the arm strikes the dog and turns it on its pivot, so that the dog bites the presser-bar, and in the further movement of the said arm and for the balance of the rise of the awl-bar the presser-bar is lifted and the foot is raised from the work, thus releasing the work while the feed is taking place.

The block 0 is normally held down by a spring 0 (see Figs. 3 and 4,) and as the awlcarrying bar descends to force the awl through the material and form a hole for the passage of the needle from below upward through the material the arm F descends with the arm F, and just before the presser-foot arrives at the surface of the material the descent of the block 0 is arrested, thus permitting the arm F to release the dog 0 from the presser-bar, so that the presser-foot under the action of the usual spring S may descend upon the material whatever may be its thickness. The

block and the arm and dog described form means whereby the presser-foot may always be lifted a certain amount from the surface of the material whatever may be its thickness.

The presser-bar at its upper end has attached to it an arm 0 the outer end of which is provided with a hole to receive a stud of a collar 0 the said collar having apin 0 which enters a groove 0 made in the looper-bar G, the said looper oar having attached to its lower end alooper G,provided at its end with a suitable book a, (see Fig. 5, where the said looper is shown in top view,) the said looper serving to act upon the thread at a point between the eye of the thread-guide e and the material being sewed, drawing from the thread-guide a sufficient length of thread to permit the needle, the hook of which thereafter engages the thread, to pass below the material and draw the thread down through the material and reach its lowest point without rendering the thread across the hook of the needle. The pin a referred to prevents the rotation of the looper-bar while the latter is being reciprocated.

The looper-bar has adjustably secured to it by set-screw c a collar 0 which is acted upon at each ascent of the awl-bar by the arm 0", attached by screw 0 to the said awl-bar.

The descent of the looper'bar G is effected by the arm 0 striking a collar 0 attached to the said rod, adjustment of the collars 0 and e determining the time and extent of throw of the said looper-bar and looper.

The looper-bar G must be moved laterally away from the elevated needle and away from the thread-guide just before the thread-guide throws its thread into the hook of the needle. To do this and thus draw off a sufficient length of thread for the purposes set forth, the looper-bar is provided with a stud 19, (see Figs. 5 and 5 which, as herein represented, enters a diagonal slot 13' (see Fig. 4:) in a plate 19 attached by screws to a holding-plate 19 secured by bolts 1) to the bearing F, the said stud being herein shown as normally retained in the said slot by means of a friction-pad p pivoted at p'l the pressure of the pad being regulated by a screw p extended through an ear rising from the plate 13 I do not, how ever, desire to limit .my invention to the exact devices for so moving the looper-bar, as instead thereof I might employ any other suitable or well-known equivalent devices.

The thread-guide is attached in usual manner to the lower end of a thread-carrier rod 6, (shown best in Figs. 14 and 15,) the upper end of the said rod being slabbed off to form a flat tongue to enter a slot in a rod 6, where it is pivoted on a pivot e". The rod 6 is fitted to turn in a bearing 6 (See Fig. 1.) The upper end of the rod c has adjustably connected with it by a screw 6 a pin 6 the head of which is jointed to a rod 6 connected to the upper end of a lever 6, (see Fig. 3,) pivoted at 6 the said lever having a roller or other stud which enters a groove in a camhub 6 fast upon the shaft A the reciprocation of the rod 6 by the said cam and lever a causing the rod 6 to be oscillated, itcarrying with it the rod 6 and effecting the vibration of the thread-guide, so that the latter is moved at the proper time or while the needle is in elevated position to press the thread against the needle, so that the hook of the latter on its descent will engage the thread.

The rod c has attached to it (see Fig. 14) two collars e, which receive between them the end of a slide-barf, which near its opposite end is extended through a guide f, (see Fig. 3,) the rear end of the slide-bar being acted upon by a cam-ledge f attached to or forming part of a plate or projection of the link F or to any movingpart of the machine. The eam-ledge f acting upon the slide-barf, causes the thread-carrier e to be moved out and in the slot of the rod 6 and about the pivot 6". At times the movement of'the rod e is only that of rotation derived from rotating the rod 6; but at other times therod e is moved independently of the rod 6', and at still other times two motions take place together. These movements take place at such time as to cnablethe thread guide to properly present its thread to the needle and then rest while the needle draws a loop of thread through the material to the lowest point reached by the needle, and then the movement of the thread-guide is continued, its movement being in an irregular path, substantially as represented in the diagram Fig. 18.

Referring to Fig. 18, 1) represents the needle, and r the starting-point of the threadguide. ing to feed the material, the thread-guide starts from the point r, and is moved to the point 0" wholly or chiefly by the slide-rod f, and by the time that the feeding-stroke of the needle has terminated the thread-guide has been moved from the point r to the point T the rotating movement being derived wholly from the partial rotation of the rod e, it carrying with it the thread-guide. The threadguide, having drawn the thread against the needle, is stopped in the plane of the motion of the needle at the rear side thereof, while the needle descends, taking with it the upper thread,andafter the needle has passed below the material to its lowest point the movement of the thread-guide is continued from the point r to W, as shown by the arrow 6 in Fig. 18. The thread-guide, having arrived at the position is stopped or rests, while the takeup is moved to set the stitch, thethread-guide in the position r enabling the thread to be drawn up through its eye in nearlya straight line, and thereafter the rod 2 is partially rotated in the reverse direction, causing the thread-guide to pass through the are from r to 7', its starting point. By stopping the thread-guide in the plane of the motion of the needle the latter is enabled to draw the thread substantially vertically down through the material. The action of the cam-ledge f onthe rodfcauses the thread-guide to pass from r to r, and thereafter the bar 6 is rotated by the action of the cam c and intermediate connections, thus causing the thread- The needle being elevated and act guide to continue its motion from rto ri a nd thereafter the said cam-ledge and the cam e in connection with the intermediate devices, co-operate to effect the motion of the threadguide in the path from r to 'r.

The gear A is provided at its inner side with a cam-groove, which receives a roller or other stud g, attached to an arm g of a rockshaft supported in a bearing 9 the said shaft having a second arm 9 which by red g is jointed to an arm 9, attached to a rock-shaft 9 having an eccentric 8. (See Fig. 1.) The rock-shaft g has its hearings in two plates g g, attached by screws 10 to a clamping-block g (shown best in Fig. 1, where the plate 9 is shown as removed,) the under side of the said block having two feet or projections to bear upon the thread 13, resting upon two like projections of a bracket 14, attached to the frame-work by a bolt 15, the clamping-block g and its attached plates g g forming a sort of saddle, which straddles the bracket 14, to be described. The plates g g are fitted loosely into grooves at the sides of the bracket 14, and as the rock-shaft g is partially turned to bring the eccentric 8 against the under side of the bracket 14, as is done when the arm g is depressed, the shaft g and the plates g and g are depressed, causing the block g to descend upon and clamp the thread firmly between .the block and the bracket and hold it while the take-up (to be described) is operated to take up the loop and set the stitch. The thread is subjected to the desired tension between the two elliptical springs 71 h, which also raise the clamping-block.g and attached plates and g, releasing the thread, when the arm 7 is elevated, the rock-shaft g then turning the eccentric 8 away from the under side of the bracket 14. The spring it rests upon the bracket 14- and supports the thread, which is acted upon by the spring 72., held in the under side of the block 9 spring It being in turn acted upon by a spiral spring 72. which is passed through the clamping-block and is made to surround a threaded post, which receives upon it an adjusting thumb-nut 7%, by which the strength of the spiral spring 7L2, and thereby the pressure of the spring it upon the thread held between it and the spring h, is increased or decreased to thus increase or diminish the tension, which may be varied according to the class of thread or the work being done. The thread, after leaving the tension device and clamping mechanism, is passed through a suitable waxing device contained within a case H, the thread issuing from a screw-threaded plug H and passing underneath a sheave 16, mounted on a screw 17, the thread passing thence over a sheave 18 at the end-of the take-up arm 19, attached to a rock-shaft 20, mounted, as herein shown, in a chambered extension of the waxing device H, the said rock-shaft at its opposite end being provided with an arm 22, to which is jointed a rod 23, pivoted at 24 upon a block 25, slotted at 26 IIC and adjustably connected by a set-screw 27 to the upper end of a lever 28, having its fulcrum at 29, the said lever at its lower end being provided with a roller or other stud 30, which enters a groove 31 ot' the camhub D.

The extension of the waxin g device H is provided with a chamber closed at one side by a door H (shown partially in Fig. 1,) leaving a chamber within which the take-up referred to is made to vibrate,this chamber containing the take-up, the sheaves l6 and 18, and the hollow plug H, the said chamber being kept heated, preferably, by means of steam, which enters a pipe 11, joined to a suitable steam-supply, the steam entering a chamber below the main body of the waxing device, and then a chamber 32 (shown by dotted lines, Fig. 1) at the lower side of the extension of the waxing device. This heated chamber in which the take-up moves enables the thread to be kept in proper pliable condition for sewing. The steam entering the chamber 32 passes therefrom through a pipe 11", (see Fig. 3,) thence down through the pipe 97 but partially shown in Fig. 1, and thence to the raceway-block, which it keeps hot I have omitted from the drawings some of the pipe at.

The shuttle is composed, essentially, of a sheet-metal segmental body 1, provided at one side with an opening for the reception of a bobbin if, composed of twoheads connected by a post or spindle 88, the said post or spindle at its ends having conical recesses to receive conical-pointed studs 2?, one held in the wall of the shuttle-body, the other being held in the cap 25 forming the cover for the bobbin-chamber, the said cover being attached to the shuttle-body, as herein shown, by screws 25 but in practice the cover may be secured in anyother usual orsuitable manner. The shuttlebody has an offset point t (best shown in Fig. 9,) so located as to readily enter the loop drawn down by the hooked needle B while the said loop is held by the hook of the needle and the loop-detainer b To produce friction upon the wax-thread wound upon the shuttle -bobbin and kept warm by gas or steam heat applied in any suitable manner to the shuttle-race and sh uttle, I have provided the shuttle-body. with a spring-arm or pad 6, slotted for the passage of the wax-thread from the bobbin under it, between it and the inner wall of the bobbinchamber, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the shuttle-thread being led out from the shuttlebody at or near its center of oscillation.

The pad or spring-arm 25, preferably formed (more or less) of wire and coiled one or more times, as shown in Figs. 8 and 11, to receive the fulcrum-screw if", has an arm i which is projected into a slot, as If", made in an eccentric stud 79, the slot and stud being so shaped that by its partial rotation the pad may be made to bear with greater or less force upon the thread just after it leaves the bobbin. The post 19 is slotted at one end for the reception of a screw-driver by which to turn it and alter the tension on the thread whilethe shuttle is in its race. The stud is held in its seat in the shuttlebody by a screw-threaded aun ulus t (see Fig. 11,) the annulus constituting one of the bearings for the post and also acting as a clamp to retain the post in adjusted position.

I have herein shown the loop-detainer as operated by a cam projection on the needlecarrying bar; but it will be obvious that the said loop-detainer might derive its motion of vibration toward and from the needle from some other moving part of the machine without departure from my invention.

Instead of the cam-ledge f attached to the link F it is obvious that the rodf may be reciprocated in one direction by any usual or suitable cam-surface, a suitable spring, as f keeping the rod f against the cam.

I claim 1. In a wax-thread sewii'ig-1nachine, the needle-bar and needle, the shuttle-race, the shuttle-carrier therein provided with a shank, and the pinion E therein, and the segmental rack and arm b and oscillating sleeve B having a projection I)", combined with the adjusting-screws to adjustably attach the arm I) to the said sleeve, whereby the position of the point of the shuttle may be varied as desired with relation to the said needle, substantially as described.

2. The pivoted bar B, its attached loop a, the rock-shaft provided with an arm 0, the arm 0 the arm C the block and stud to form an adjustable pivotal connection between the said arms 0 and C the rock-shaft. D, and means, substantially as described, to operate it, combined with the work-support, the needle-bar, the needle, and means to reciprocate the said needle-bar, to operate substantially as described.

3. The needle-bar, its needle, the rotating cam-disk to reciprocate the needle-bar, the shaft B, means to rotate it, the sleeve B through which the shaft B is extended, the link and cam to oscillate the sleeve 13*, the arm 1), its rack, and the pinion shuttle-carrier, and shuttle and shuttle-race, combined with the guide-bar for the needle-bar, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

4. The thread-guide. c the bar 6 and the bar 6, to which itis pivoted, and a fixed hearing for the bar e, the adjustable stud or pin 0, the link 6 jointed thereto, and means to reciprocate it to thereby rotate the bars 6 and e, combined with the rod f, connected to the bar 6, and the camf to move the said rod f, and thereby move the bar 6 on its pivotwith relation to the bar 6', the said devices co-operating to actuate the threadgnide in an irregular path, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a wax-thread sewing-machine, the thread-guide, the needle-bar, its needle I), the looper, its red G, adjustable collars attached thereto, a pin or stud extended from the rod, a plate having an inclined slot to receive the said pin; the presserbar, its arm 0*, and guide for the looper-bar, combined with the :tWl-bar, its arm 0" to operate the looper-bar, and With a pad p to produce friction on the I looper-bar, as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a wax-thread sewing-machine, a needle-bar, hooked needle, and take-up, combined with it thread-clamp composed, essem tially, of two clampingsurfaces and their interposed tension-springs, one of which surfaces is rigid and acted upon directly by an eccentric on a rocloshnft having its bearings in the other clamping-surface, and with means to automatically operate the rock-sl1aft I5 to bring the surfaces together positively to clamp the threaclwhile the stitch is being set, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 20 two subscribing witnesses.

Pl-IILANDER IIARUMV.

\Vit-nesses:

G. W. GREGORY, l3. DEWAR. 

